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30th Street Corridor Development

Summary

About the Project

The 30th Street Corridor is in need of pavement resurfacing, slope stabilization and drainage improvements. The current design includes the following elements:

widened shoulders,

a new storm sewer,

new water quality ponds,

intersection improvements (including a roundabout at Gateway Rd),

landslide mitigation,

retaining walls, and

multi-use shoulders/bike lanes.

30th Street has also been identified as an Emergency Evacuation Corridor for Colorado Springs. The current roadway width is 24 feet wide, with no shoulders. Widening the road will allow drivers to pull over more easily in the event of a minor roadside emergency. Adding asphalt shoulders will also allow emergency vehicles like ambulances and fire trucks to pass other vehicles more safely on this two-lane road.

This project scope has changed over time, from its original inception 5 years ago. Previous designs were shorter in distance and in scope. The current project improvements have been increased to two miles, and aim to accommodate additional necessary improvements along the corridor including drainage abatement and slope stability. To best serve the community and address the issues that exist along the corridor, the new design will accommodate current and future needs in an overall corridor plan.

The project will also collect data for historic and cultural resources, Tribal lands, wetlands, air quality, wildlife movements, and visual and noise impacts.

Public Involvement, Alternative Analysis and Preliminary Design have occurred since May of 2017. Final Design and environmental clearances are anticipated by early 2020, and construction is anticipated to start in the Spring of 2020.

Design Elements

The City of Colorado Springs is working with the consulting firm Felsburg Holt and Ullevig to design improvements for 30th Street from Fontanero to Mesa Rd. The current design includes the following elements:

Trail connections (includes an underpass at Gateway Rd for the Foothills Trail)

Federal funding will be used, so the design will require clearances through the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process. Once the City has performed all NEPA requirements, construction may begin. The City is forecasting a construction start date of 2020.

Design Element Considerations

Public involvement: The city has performed property owner interviews, 3 stakeholder meetings, and one public meeting so far. There will be another public meeting planned for Fall 2019.

Survey, digital terrain modeling

Title work and prosperity oversight: Identifies potential for needed easements

FAQs

1. What is the overall purpose for improving the 30th Street corridor?

The 30th Street Corridor is in need of pavement resurfacing, new shoulders, slope stabilization and drainage improvements. 30th Street has also been identified as an Emergency Evacuation Corridor for Colorado Springs. The current roadway width is 24 feet wide, with no shoulders. Widening the road will allow drivers to pull over more easily in the event of a minor roadside emergency. Adding asphalt shoulders will also allow emergency vehicles like ambulances and fire trucks to pass other vehicles more safely on this two-lane road.

2. What will 30th Street look like after this project is complete?

This project will increase the width of the road from 24 to 37 feet. The new design will allow for two 11 foot travel lanes, a 5 foot multi-use shoulder on each side, and a 2.5 foot curb and gutter on each side. The proposed cross section was developed due to existing topography on the east (steep slopes with slope instability) and to reduce impact to existing neighborhoods on the west side of the corridor.

3. Will the project add bike lanes or sidewalks?

No, the multi-use shoulders may be used by bicyclists and for vehicular emergency pull off, but the added shoulder will NOT be striped as a designated bike lane. Existing topography (steep slopes with slope instability) will increase the cost of a typical sidewalk installation. Our current budget will not allow for construction of sidewalks at this time.

4. What is the recommendation for the Gateway Road intersection?

A roundabout intersection has been identified as the recommended alternative. A roundabout will most effectively meet the community values related to the park and for keeping a rural, unobstructed setting versus non-urban elements such as a traffic signal. A roundabout addresses all of the issues identified at this intersection – speeding traffic, congestion at Gateway Road, and the desire for a gateway feature.

5. Why was Mesa Road intersection geometry changed?

The intersection geometry at Mesa Road was identified as a safety issue, and modified prior to the 2C Roadway Improvements that will occur on 30th Street North of Mesa Rd (2019 or 2020). City Traffic Engineering reconfigured the entry angle to be more perpendicular for better driver navigation. This new geometry also removes the acceleration lane, to reduce accidents and provide a safer turning movement.

6. Was a traffic study conducted?

Yes, a traffic study was conducted in June 2017 to capture peak traffic data at four intersections between Fontanero Street and Mesa Road. Crash data was compiled for total crashes, type of crash, locations, and cause of accident.

7. What is the project schedule?

Construction is scheduled to start in Spring of 2020, contingent upon environmental clearances. Construction is expected to last approximately 18 months.

8. What relationship and overlaps does the 30th Street Project have to the Camp Creek Project?